Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20


8. r Langley, who during Prof. Baird's illness has
been acting secretary Of the Smithsonian Institu-
tion, Is in Allegheny, Pa.
THE REMAINS TO BE BROUGHT HERE TOMORROW.
Prof. G. Brown Goode, the junior assistant sec
retary, was In charge to-day, and made such SIM
pie arrangements as were needed for the tempo
rary interment here Tomorrow The remains
will be brought to this city, arriving tomorrow and
will be taken at once to Oak Hill cemetery, where
m viii IG be In vau ns
Holl by members Of the Fish Commission party
now at that station. The interment tomorrow
the fall, at date yet to be ixed it is probable
that there Will be formal memorial exercises. AS
Prot. Baird's family could not accompany the re-
delay the formal funeral ceremonies until they
could attend. Mrs. Baird, 1t is stated, has been
Frustrated by the death OF her husband and is
quite i'll.
The remains of Prof. Baird are expected to reach
this city by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to-
morrow afternoon at o'clock.
THE VACANCIES CREATED.
Prof. Baird's death leaves vacant the Office OF
Secretary OF the Smithsonian Institution-the
managing head OF the institution-which he had
filled since the death OF Prot. Joseph Henry. 1t
leaves vacant also the Office OF United States Fish
Commissioner, place ne filled ever since It was
created by Congress. though he drew no salary for
his services.
WHAT GEN. MEIGs SAYS.
Gen. NJ. C. 'Meigs who is member OF the board
OF regents Of the Smithsonian Institution and the
only member in the city at present, to-day stated
to STAR reporter that the board, which is CON-
posed OF fourteen members will not meet to select
successor to Prof. Baird until January, unless
special meeting should be called, which is most
unusual occurrence. He said: although I can
not speak Of1ctally on the subject, 1t Is my Inn
preston that Prot. Langley. who at present holds
tion, will continue to act as the head OF affairs un
til the meeting OF the regents. 1t has been the
CusI3 IN ,oLnef yeas 10 prOm0te tne ocaais OIL
occur, and have no doubt but that it will be fol-
lowed now. Prof. Bairds death is deeply lamented
by all who have had any associations with him.
do not believe that in all of his career as
the head OF that large institution he has encoun-
tered single obstacle In the way OF friction with
standing in science and In official and social repu-
tat1On. He was connected with the Smithsonian
for many years. having been appointed assistant
the secretary. In science his name Is foremost.
AS the head OF the United States Fish commission,
an an on ONCE, by the way that dld not pay him cent
try to far higher standard than at one time
seemed possible He has redeemed the shad mar
and had it not been for % Prof. Baird the Potomac
River would not have produced one hundred shad
year. Congress has had implicit confidence in
money on fisheries and isn culture at the sole sus
gestlon OF this man. And he has shown that he
was right. Science loses bright light in the death
seldom be equalled."
THE SMITHSONIAN REGENTS.
The regents of the Smithsonian are, Chief JUS
tice Waite, who Is chancellor OF the institution,
Senator's Morrill,, Maxey and Cullom, Representa-
tives Singleton, Wilson, and Phelps Prof. Asa
Gray Of Cam6rIdge Prot Henry cofee Of Bethle
ling, OF the Columbian University, Gen. NJ. C.
Aeigs, and Prot. M J: B. Angel Of Michigan. The
President OF the United States Is ex OclO preSid-
ing officer OF the institution. II special meeting
is called 1t will be called by CHIEF Justice Waite as
chancellor OF the institution. Chief Justice Waite
ing OF the regents held in January at Prof Bairds
suggestion, as he was then In Ill health.
provision was ss made for the succession IN
OF Prof. S. P. Langley, as senior and Prof. G.
Brown Goode, the assistant director OF the Ma
as secpesay It has been
nected with the Smithsonian that Prof. Langley
would ultimately succeed Prof Baird. thas been
ceeded by some eminent physicist, like Prof Lang
ley. Prof Henry Was physicist and he was sue
ceeded by Prof. Baird, who was a naturalist. Now
Prof. Langley has for half q year been acting as
secretary OF the institution and will continue to
act In that capacity until the regents meet.
THE FISH COMMISSION.
The Offlce of Fish Commissioner as stated has
no salary attached to it, and it was created orig
inally with the intention on the part of Congress
that 1t should be filed by Prof. Baird The law
directed that some one Of scientific attachments
in the Governments employ, competent to MI the
In authority to Prof. Baird is his chief assistant
Major T: B. Ferguson, who has, during Prof
the bureau. An of1iciai OF the Commission stated
to STAR reporter that he thought the President
could find some one to appoint to the Of1ce who
would be Quaiined tor it under the law,
SOMETHING ABOUT PROF. BAIRD's SCIENTIFIC WORK.
Prof. Otis Mason, OF the National Museum, speak.
ing to STAR reporter to-day OF Prof. Baird, said
that Prof. Baird was generally regarded as an ex.
ecutive Off1cer. AS matter Of fact, however the
amount o. Of scientific @ work he had done was enor:
many Volumes Prof. Henry % had done little a to en- en-
rich scientific literature. He was a ready speaker
and many OF I'M his N greatest sayings and announce:
had been reported and some had not
His collected writings and sayings would
scarcely sea- ,eG ve.1 MI beed two volumes Prot Baird
amount OF work, being aided, at his home. by hil
Wife, as his private secretary, until her health BE-
came poor, wnsn Sheeh1 ms daughter succeeded her
life had broken down Prot. Bairds strong consti-
tuition. "He endeared himself to all" satd Prof.
that he would never quarrel and never have any.
thing TO DO with the Quarrels Of Others He was
for peace: He was recognized leader among
hats on to him; even the greatest among them % de.
ferred to him. You could see that at the meetin0l
Of any Of the scientific societies. or ct the Cosmo.
one thing noticed that whatever suggestion be
made was generally acted on. II he said al
meeting OF society that such 9
thing bad bad b. better not os done, Or that 4
taken. Wel," and the professor drew long sigh
81 don't know where the societies win look now
for another Prophet Samuel He was very mod
est man. DO you know that that great big man
six feet and more, could not make speechf Ever
II called on to make response to vote OF thanks
before one OF our little societies where he knew
every one, he would tremble like child. But take
him In his private ONCE, where he would rock In
his chair, and then Wouldn't be TAXI Prot. Baird
than biologist. 1nis was natural as modern
biological Investigations have been Instituted
since he left the workbench. He, however, swept
the whole field Of natural history with his net
He encouraged scientinc research In every direc
tton. He had, Of course, little knowledge OF my
special work, but he was 80 constituted that ht
caught an idea quickly, and II suggested any
new line or idea he cOmprehended IL az once and
watched with interest to see how It was deVel
oped."
PROF. BAIRDs FAMILY.
Prot. Raird's hnms In this city waa at 1AAi